Östersjön

Character of the water

Östersjön lies in central Sweden — a acidified forest lake. In summer a thermocline settles around 4 m and splits the lake into two worlds. Acidification has thinned life down to the hardiest few.

The surroundings

The lake sits close to town with a road right up to it — easy to reach, but hard-fished and exposed to nutrient runoff from the buildings and fields all around.

Moderately deep (10 m) — shallow bays, the odd reef and a deeper channel through the middle.

Permits & rules

Fishing permit required — Östersjön FVOF. Day permit ~140 kr · annual permit ~700 kr.

• Pike: keep at most one over 75 cm per day.
• Handheld tackle only. Respect the protected zones at the inlets and outlets.

Fishing Östersjön

perch and pike sit at the top of the food chain in Östersjön, carried by roach. The clearer water makes the fish wary — and rewards a careful presentation.

Every session at Östersjön is fished in whatever conditions hold right then — the same pressure, wind and light as over the real water. What bites today isn't what bit the day before, and those who return learn the water for real.

General rules of thumb for this kind of water

• Acidified water yields few, hardy species.